JANUARY 2010 A publication of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce
01 / 2010
The canadian ambassador’s residence
Corporate
Partnership
Premier Sponsors
Executive Sponsors
Calendar
TCCC
Calendar of events: WHEN: WHAT: 2009/2010 TCCC Executives Patron: His Excellency Ambassador Ron Hoffmann President – Ron Livingston Vice President – Terence Dean Vice President – Sebastien Leblond Secretary – Dr. Tim Cornwall Treasurer – John Casella Executive Board: John Casella Sranyoo Chanate Neil Chiu Dr. Tim Cornwall Kobsak Duangdee Ali Fancy Subhasakdi Krishnamra Sebastien LeBlonde Ron Livingston Sukanya Rattanavadee Niccolo Sozzi Michael White Embassy Representative: Greg Goldhawk Advisors: Sam Cohen Don Lavoie Surachit Chanovan Luc Métivier Executive Director: Randy Shockley Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce 139 Pan Road, Sethiwan Tower 9th floor, Bangkok 10500 Tel: +66(0) 2266-6085-6 Fax: +66(0) 2266-6087 Email: tccc@loxinfo.co.th Website: www.tccc.or.th
Wednesday, January 13, 2010; 11:30 am – 2:00 pm Speaker Luncheon: Khun Ajarin Pattanapanchai Deputy Secretary General - Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) will provide an "Update on BOI policies and support" including an overview of the new OSOS Center. WHERE: Royal Orchid Sheraton PRICE: 700 baht – Members; 850 baht – Non Members WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:
Wednesday, January 20, 2010; 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Canuck Connections Networking Night Coyote’s – Sukhumvit (Between Soi's 31 & 33) 200 baht – Members; 400 baht – Non Members
WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:
Saturday, January 23, 2010; 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm The Great Canadian BBQ 2010 Ambassador’s Residence 1,500 baht per adult; 500 baht per child 6 to 11
WHEN: WHAT:
Wednesday, February 10, 2010; 11:30 am – 2:00 pm Speaker Luncheon: Khun Pimpaka Nichgaroon, Head Strategist for Thanachart Securities Research Department will provide a Thailand economic and investment outlook for 2010 WHERE: TBD PRICE: 700 baht – Members; 850 baht – Non Members WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:
Wednesday, February 17, 2010; 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Canuck Connections Networking Night British Club 200 baht – Members; 400 baht – Non Members
WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:
Friday, February 27, 2010; 10:00 am – 6:00 pm The 12th Annual TCCC Maple Leaf Cup Golf Tournament Bangkok Golf Club 11,200 baht/team or 3,000 baht/player & 750 baht/non-player
Upcoming events in the region:
CCBA
Don’t forget that as a member of Thai – Canadian Chamber of Commerce, you are entitled to the reciprocal benefits within the network of Canadian Chambers of Commerce and Business Associations (CCBA’s) in South East Asia and East Asia. Next time you travel in the region remember to check the upcoming events at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Business Association at your destination.
HONG KONG: www.cancham.org
The Voyageur is the monthly magazine of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, covering all Thai-Canadian business, legal and social news of interest to the members and others who are active in expanding Thai-Canadian bilateral trade. Editor: Randy Shockley, Executive Director, Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Publisher: Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. 4/41-2 Moo 3, Thanyakarn Village, Ramintra Soi 14, Bangkok 10230 Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166-8 Fax: +66(0) 2943-7169 Design: Disraporn Yatprom Email: disraporn@scandmedia.com Advertising Contact: Mr. Finn Balslev, Marketing Director Scand-Media Corp., Ltd. Tel: +66(0) 2943-7166 ext.151 or 08-1866-2577 Email: finn@scandmedia.com
WHEN: Wednesday, January 20, 2010; 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm WHAT: Beyond Networking WHERE: The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Suite 1301, Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong PRICE: HK$200 for members and HK$250 for non-members
VIETNAM: www.canchamvietnam.org WHEN: WHAT: WHERE: PRICE:
Wed. Jan. 13th, 2010 Executive Summary and Outlook 2010 New World Hotel Not available at time of publication. For more information please visit www.canchamvietnam.org
The Great Canadian
BBQ 2010
The Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce invites you to share in the fun of the The Great Canadian BBQ on Saturday, January 23, 2010. As in prior years, the event finds its inspiration in the Calgary Stampede, with a down home focus on great barbeque, cowboys, cowgirls and the types of games commonly played at these events. Thanks to the support of H.E. Ambassador Ron Hoffmann and his wife Andrea, the 2010 BBQ event will again be held in the garden of the official residence with attendance being limited to the first 100 ticket holders. The BBQ will take place from 3 pm to 10 pm and is organized as a chamber get together to kick-off the New Year and to take advantage of the final days of Bangkok’s brief winter season. Cowboy & cowgirl attire is highly encouraged with a prize for “Best Stampede Outfit”, so ladies and gentlemen be ready for a little western style ‘runway’ action at the this year’s event. The Outlaw Brother’s Band will also be providing us with some mighty fine picking. The ticket price includes all food and beverages offered during the event. Adult tickets are 1,500 Baht and for children between the ages of 6 to 11, the ticket price is 500 Baht. As seats are limited, please reserve your tickets today! If you are interested in participating in this fun and unique event, please contact the Chamber at 02-266-6085/6 or e-mail us at tccc@loxinfo.co.th to receive complete event details. On behalf of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, we thank you for your support.
January 2010
3
Chamber Activities
Partners In Opportunity Canadian Trade Mission To Bangkok, Thailand
O
n Monday, November 9, 2009, the Canadian Embassy held its “Partners in Opportunity” conference in support of a visiting Canadian Energy Trade Mission led by the Honourable Stockwell Day, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway. This ministerial visit represented Canada’s first to Thailand in 6 years and was supported by a mission of 10 Canadian companies representing Canada’s energy industry, including representatives from the conventional oil, gas, nuclear and CNG/NGV sectors. The “Partners in Opportunity” conference was well attended with approximately 120 participants being provided with some insightful analysis of the Thai energy sector’s trends & opportunities and specific trade mission partnering information. The event’s opening ceremony was highlighted by speeches from H.E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Canada’s Ambassador to Thailand, the Honourable Stockwell Day, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, and H.E. Kiat Sittheeamorn, President of the Thailand Trade Representative Office. The opening session also included in-depth presentations by six highly respected local experts who addressed Thailand’s energy environment, including policy, regulations & plans and investment support, as well as market opportunities and challenges for conventional and alternative energy in Thailand. Featured speakers and their respective topics were: •
Overview of Thailand’s Energy Policy - Dr. Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, Director, Petroleum Business Group, Petroleum and Petrochemical Policy Bureau, Energy Policy and Planning Office, Ministry of Energy
•
Regulatory Issues for the Power Industry in Thailand - Dr. Pallapa Ruangrong, Commissioner, Energy Regulatory Commission
•
•
Thai Board of Investment (BOI) Initiatives to Support the National Energy Policy on NGV and Alternative Energy Investment - Ms. Ajarin Pattanapanchai, Deputy Secretary General, Office of the Board of Investment CNG / NGV Market Development in Thailand - Mr. Wichai Pornkeratiwat, Executive Vice-President Natural Gas Vehicle, PTT Public Company Limited
4 Voyageur
•
Electrical Power Generation: Nuclear Power - Dr. Apisit Patchimpattanapong, Nuclear Power Engineering Department
•
Thailand’s Upstream Petroleum Industry & Opportunities for Petroleum Operators - Dr. Kurujit Nakornthap, Director General, Department of Mineral Fuels
The morning session closed with each of the Canadian Trade Mission delegates providing conference participants with a brief introduction and a statement of their company’s business mission objectives. The luncheon was structured as a stand-up networking event designed to provide participants an opportunity to meet and continue business discussions with Minister Day, Ambassador Hoffmann and the Canadian trade mission delegates. The afternoon session was reserved for one-on-one business partnering meetings to allow local Thai businesses and mission delegates to discuss potential project collaborations in more detail. In concluding the day, H.E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Ambassador of Canada to Thailand, in association with the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, held a business networking dinner reception at the Dusit Thani. In total, 130 government officials, mission delegates and members of the local business community attended this function. Minister Day, Ambassador Hoffmann and TCCC President, Mr. Ron Livingston, also provided closing remarks during this trade mission wrap-up dinner. Please see page #6 for a list of the Canadian Trade Mission companies. The below news releases are featured with this article to provide additional event details and outcomes: No. 335 – November 9, 2009: Minister Day Leads Trade Mission to Thailand (Page 6)
The Honorable Stockwell Day, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Minister of for the Asia-Pacific Gateway kicking off the “Partners in Opportunity” conference.
H.E. Kiat Sittheeamorn, President of the Thailand Trade Representative Office.
Minister Stockwell Day and H.E. Kiat Sittheeamorn enjoying a discussion during the “Partners in Opportunity” conference.
No. 337 – November 10, 2009: CanadaThailand Strategic Energy Partnership (Page 7) No. 341 – November 12, 2009 Canada Increases Its Southeast Asia Presence (Page 7)
During Minister Day’s visit, the local media were never far away.
Chamber Activities
H. E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Canada’s Ambassador to Thailand addressing the “Partners in Opportunity” audience.
(L-R) H.E. Mr. Ron Hoffmann, Canada’s Ambassador to Thailand, The Honorable Stockwell Day, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway and H.E. Kiat Sittheeamorn, President of the Thailand Trade Representative Office, participating in the official opening ceremony of the “Partners In Opportunity” conference.
(L-R) Minister Day visits with Thailand’s Minister of Commerce, H.E. Porntiva Nakasai. (L-R) H.E. Wannarat Channukul, Thailand’s Minister of Energy, welcomes Minister Day.
Ambassador Ron Hoffmann welcoming guests to the “Partners In Opportunity” business networking dinner reception.
Minister Day thanking all of the conference attendees for their excellent support of the Canadian Trade Mission.
Approximately 130 individuals turned-out for the opening of the “Partners In Opportunity” conference. Featured in this shot are members of the SNC-Lavalin International delegation.
TCCC Advisor, Mr. Sam Cohen talks with Minister Day. As a consultant on developing trade and investment potential in both Thailand & Canada, Mr. Cohen’s time was in high demand during the Trade Mission.
Mr. Ron Livingston, TCCC President, encourages all delegates to leverage the evening’s networking event.
An attentive business networking audience as Minister Day speaks.
January 2010
5
Minister Day
Leads Trade Mission to Thailand
The full “Partners In Opportunity” Canadian Trade Mission led by Minister Day
Canadian Trade Mission to Thailand
Participating Companies Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. - Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL) is a leading-edge nuclear technology and services company providing services to utilities worldwide. IMW Compressors (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. - IMW Compressors (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of IMW Industries Ltd., of Chilliwack, British Columbia, is a leading manufacturer and provider of turnkey solutions for compressed natural gas vehicle fuelling and other applications. Katch Kan Ltd. -Katch Kan Ltd. is an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified company that provides innovative technology systems for the oil and gas industry. These systems are designed to reduce companies’ operating costs, environmental footprint and repetitive injury liability. L-3 Communications MAPPS Inc. - L-3 Communications MAPPS Inc. is a world-leading supplier of control and simulation solutions for the nuclear, fossil-fuel and natural gas power sectors. McKinney Machine Company Ltd. - McKinney Machine Company Ltd. has a more than 50-year history in Alberta. The company is involved in the manufacture and repair of oil field drilling equipment. Newsco Directional & Horizontal Drilling Services Inc. - Newsco Directional & Horizontal Services Inc. provides directional drilling services for a broad range of wells using the company’s unique MWD/LWD system. SNC-Lavalin International Inc. - SNC-Lavalin International Inc. is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world, and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. Sunwing Energy Ltd. - Sunwing Energy Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vancouver’s Ivanhoe Energy Inc., with offices in Canada and China (Dagang, Chengdu, and Beijing). Since the early 1990s, Sunwing Energy has been investing very actively in the petroleum exploration and development sector in the Asia-Pacific region. Techno Canada Inc. - Techno Canada Inc. is an independent oil service provider with worldclass health, safety, environmental and quality standards. Xebec Adsorption Inc. - Xebec Adsorption Inc., headquartered in Blainville, Quebec, is a manufacturer of gas purification equipment, whose solutions target a number of markets and applications.
6 Voyageur
(No. 335 - November 9, 2009 ) The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, arrived in Thailand yesterday at the head of a trade mission made up of 10 Canadian energy companies. Minister Day launched the trade mission before an audience of senior Canadian and Thai officials and business representatives in Bangkok. The Minister emphasized that this mission is the first Canadian ministerial visit in six years, and it will promote Canada as a supplier of highquality goods and services to Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia. “We must take advantage of the Government of Thailand’s new energy strategy by showcasing Canadian expertise,” said Minister Day. “This trade mission will help open doors for Canadian businesses that have an expertise in areas such as oil and gas exploration and production, natural gas vehicles, biomass energy, and wind, solar and nuclear energy.” The Thai government’s new energy strategy, approved in January 2009, focuses on achieving greater energy independence and security through both conventional resources and alternative and renewable resources, such as compressed natural gas, bio-fuels and nuclear power. In addition to having a growing number of Canadian businesses seeking a share of the energy market there, Thailand represents an important investment destination for Canadian companies. Canadian direct investment into Thailand has been increasing over recent years, reaching $1.3 billion at the end of 2008. As well, Canadian exports to Thailand also grew by 20 percent last year, particularly in the areas of machinery, wood pulp, cereals and vehicle parts. “I am pleased with the solid and expanding nature of our relationship with Thailand, a valued partner in Asia,” said Minister Day. “My visit here not only shows Canada’s commitment to increasing trade and investment with this market, but it also highlights our countries’ interest in working together to create new opportunities in the years to come.” (Trade Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada)
Chamber Activities
Canada-Thailand
Strategic Energy Partnership (No. 337 - November 10, 2009) The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today met with Wannarat Channukul, Thailand’s Minister of Energy. The ministers agreed to develop an unprecedented Canada-Thailand strategic energy partnership. “Representatives from both countries will meet again before the end of the year to identify specific technologies and services for potential expanded trade and technology partnerships,” said Minister Day. “This agreement will help Canadian companies take advantage of opportunities in the Thai market, particularly in oil and gas exploration and production, natural gas vehicles, biomass energy, and wind, solar and nuclear energy.” During his trade mission, the first Canadian ministerial visit to Thailand in six years, Minister Day opened SNC-Lavalin’s new operating base in Bangkok. The centre will be the hub for the Canadian company’s work in the renewable and conventional thermal energy sector in Southeast Asia. “This is a great example of the demand for Canadian expertise here in Thailand, and of a
Canadian company stepping in to meet that need,” said Minister Day. “The new centre offers immense opportunities for both our countries to create new jobs and prosperity for our citizens.” “We are very pleased to expand our presence in Thailand and the region,” said Alain Lemay, Senior Vice-President, SNC-Lavalin International Inc. “SNC-Lavalin has significant expertise and over 40 years of experience in delivering projects in Asia, most recently on the SIPCO 160MW combined cycle power plant in Rayong, Thailand, and we look forward to working with our Thai clients and partners in the region and continue to deliver world-class engineering and construction solutions to the domestic and regional market.” On this trade mission the Minister also highlighted that Canada’s Economic Action Plan is investing in clean energy projects that are creating high-quality jobs for Canadians, helping our environment and preparing the economy for the future. The Minister also met with senior Thai officials including the President of the Trade Representative Office, Kiat Sittheeamorn,
and Thailand’s Minister of Commerce, Porntiva Nakasai. During the meetings, Minister Day discussed Canada’s robust and growing commercial partnership with Thailand, promoted Canada as a major player in the energy sector, and pressed for removal of Thailand’s trade restrictions affecting access of Canadian swine, pork, and related products, based on science. Minister Day also visited the British Columbia International School in Bangkok, where students pursue a mixed curriculum— Canadian and Thai—and obtain two highschool graduation certificates, one from Thailand and one from British Columbia’s Ministry of Education. “This school is an example of the kind of reach Canadian teaching institutions and methods are having in the region,” said Minister Day. “My visit to Thailand not only shows Canada’s commitment to increasing trade and investment with this market, but it also highlights our countries’ people-to-people contacts, as demonstrated by our education links.” (Trade Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada)
Canada Increases
Its Southeast Asia Presence (No. 341 - November 12, 2009) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced that Canada is taking steps to increase its commercial and political presence in Southeast Asia by creating Canada’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Network. The Ministers made the announcement while attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial Meeting in Singapore. “We are strengthening our presence in Southeast Asia with the right people, and doing the right things to get tangible results for Canadians,” said Minister Cannon. “The ASEAN Network reinforces Canada’s strong commitment to the promotion and protection of Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. With respect to Burma, Canada is strengthening its advocacy on human rights; we look forward to closer cooperation in the region.” Canada’s ASEAN Network will involve experts working on trade and investment, hu-
man rights, security, health, natural disasters and other bilateral and multilateral issues in the region. “The ASEAN Network will further Canadian interests in the region and help identify new business opportunities for Canadian companies,” said Minister Day. “Additional experts in Canada's missions in Southeast Asia will promote Canada as an investment destination of choice. Canada has a lot to offer, including a sound banking system, a stable business environment, the lowest corporate taxes in the G7 by 2012, and a dynamic, talented, highly qualified workforce.” At this year’s APEC Ministerial Meeting, participants agreed to ensure that the current trend toward economic recovery continues and is inclusive, balanced and sustainable. They agreed to do this by working together for regional economic integration and by supporting the multilateral trading system. APEC is a huge potential market. Together, its members account for 54 percent of world gross domestic product, 41 percent of world population and 44 percent of global merchandise trade. Canada’s merchandise
exports to APEC countries reached $420 billion in 2008. Canada also has a large investment presence in the APEC region. In 2008, the known stock of Canadian direct investment in APEC countries was nearly $354 billion. The APEC forum promotes free and open markets in one of the world’s largest economic zones. It comprises 21 members: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The ASEAN member countries are Brunei Darussalam, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It was founded in 1967 to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region to help ensure a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations. Trade Media Relations Office Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
January 2010
7
January 2010
9
Member Profile
Q Bar Celebrates a By Scott Murray
Y
ou might be surprised to learn that the co-owner of Q Bar, one of the most popular bars in Bangkok, is Canadian Andrew Clark. In the following piece Voyageur tracks his journey here and details how he came to be the proprietor of a hot spot known the world over. The threat of separation from Canada forced Andrew, a native Montrealer, and his family to relocate from Quebec to Victoria in 1975, when Andrew was just seven. He stayed there until 1986 when his girlfriend at the time dragged him to Japan, where he ended up working as a graphic designer for a publishing/advertising company for three years. One of his employees was a young Thai guy named Chatapoom, who kept urging him to go to Thailand for a holiday. It made sense as it was cheaper to fly and spend a long weekend in Thailand than to kick back in Tokyo. He first touched down in Thailand in 1988. “I went to Koh Samui,” he recalls. “It was the first time I’d seen a palm tree in my life. The food was great, the people were
10 Voyageur
friendly; I said what the hell am I doing in Tokyo? It took me four months to sort out everything and move here.” Andrew started a little design company with Chatapoom in Bangkok, but after six months he moved to an international advertising company called KLPL (formerly Young & Rubicon) as an art director. He found it hard going working for a big company where you “needed to get permission to get ten new pencils”. Always having been an entrepreneur, he teamed up with a friend named Robbie Gilchrist, who was working for McCann Eriksson at the time. The two knew Tim Walker, the head of Canadian Airlines for the region, and Bill Heinecke, the head of the Minor Group: both had urged them to do start their own advertising agency. So in 1993, Robbie and Andrew formed Creative In-House. After three years, they were doing 40 million baht in revenue. About the same time, another entrepreneur by the name of David Jacobson was starting Q Bar in Saigon. David had been hanging out in Ho Chi Minh City with some
NGOs, doing some photography and looking for a reason to stay in Vietnam, a country he loved. So he looked around, trying to decide what Saigon was lacking, and decided it was missing a decent bar, just at the time the American embargo was about to be lifted. So he started Q Bar: it had decent drinks, bathrooms, music, and service, and the staff spoke excellent English. It was an instant success. Andrew had started traveling to Saigon frequently and while there he hung out at Q Bar as it was one of the only decent bars in town. And all his clients hung out there as did many other people in the advertising business. He got to know David quite well, and Jacobson started to have Creative In-House do some work for him. One night, after a few too many, Andrew started urging David to open up a Q Bar in Bangkok. Andrew himself had started to get into the entertainment business as the Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit had asked Creative In-House to take over their entertainment for Sunday nights. It did and the company
Decade in Bangkok brought in live DJs, served Saki martinis for Bt100, did mass e-mailings to all the cool people they knew (ahead of its time back then) and they packed the place. The club made more money on Sunday nights, than they did for all the other nights of the week. At this point Andrew realized that Bangkok’s nightlife scene desperately needed something cool. Serendipity intervened when in 1998 Vietnam suddenly denied David Jacobson a visa to return to Saigon. A lot of reasons were bandied about, including he was working for the CIA, but the real reason seemed they were envious that an American was running the most successful bar in Vietnam. David ended up being stuck in Bangkok for over a year, finally became fed up and decided to take up Andrew’s offer of opening a Q Bar in Bangkok. It took them five months to design and officially open the Q Bar Bangkok on 17 Dec 1999, pushing everyone, including the contractors to be open before the millennium. They had 800 people on opening night, so from day one it has been successful. Looking back, Andrew says, “There were girly bars, Irish pubs, hotel fun-pubs, live band houses, but nothing really cool by international standards. There were no DJ clubs and no drink culture; you either ordered a beer, or whiskey soda. “We wanted to come up with a bar with a real drink culture where you could bring your wife, girlfriend, or business partner and weren’t embarrassed to do so. There were very few places to do that except for a few hotel bars like Spassos. We sought to be the most sophisticated place to hang out in Bangkok, where you could dance, or you could hang out on the balcony and chat. From day one, we were packed, people couldn’t get enough of it; hi-sos, expats,
Andrew going all out for Halloween
Q-Bar co-owners: (L-R) Mr. David Jacobson and Mr. Andrew Clark.
“What has made Q Bar Bangkok so successful is that David and I are there five or six nights a week. There is always something to take care of." tourists, they all came, and there was zero competition except maybe Tapas on Silom Soi 4, but they were catering to slightly different clientele. I expected that people would be copying us within six months, but it wasn’t until the Bed Supper Club opened on Sukhumvit Soi 11 three years later that we saw our first competition.” Bed’s owners were in the Q Bar every night for a year before they opened, looking, watching and learning. Strangely enough, when Bed opened Q Bar’s business increased, as it made Soi 11 more of a destination. “We believe in healthy competition,” Andrew says. “We are all good friends; we have dinner together and invite each other over to our homes.” From 2004, onwards people approached Andrew and David about opening a Q Bar in places like Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai, Macau and Beijing. But they didn’t find a spot that particularly caught their fancy until they established a Q Bar in Singapore in August of
2006. It was on Boat Quay, in the old Justice Chambers Building, near the Fullerton Hotel and statue of Raffles. It was a franchise, and unfortunately the owners didn’t take Andrew and David’s advice, nor did they pump much money into it, and Andrew and David couldn’t get there as often as they would like. It ran for 12 months, but Q Bar Bangkok eventually took the name away, because Q Bar Singapore wasn’t paying them commissions or living up to their standards. The bar is still there under a different name. In 2004, before the Singapore venture, they were looking at expanding to Jungceylon in Patong in Phuket, but the tsunami changed all that. Then an opportunity came up in Koh Samui on a hill overlooking Chaweng Beach. So Q Bar Samui was born featuring a nightclub downstairs, an upstairs lounge with a big balcony overlooking Chaweng. It debuted on 15 Dec 2005, just as Singapore was closing down, but it barely broke even, so after about 20 months Andrew & David sold it to a Bangkok businesswoman, who has kept the name, but focuses on tourists and Bangkokians. “What has made Q Bar Bangkok so successful is that David and I are there five or six nights a week,” Andrew says. “People want to see us. There is always something to take care of, whether it’s the lighting, the music, whatever. That’s why Q Bar Singapore fell apart; we just couldn’t spend enough time there. If you are going to run a successful bar, you need to be there unless you are prepared to pay big bucks for a corporate manager.” “In Bangkok, we are cutting edge; the invitation to our opening night introduced a whole new era in Bangkok, we’ve had a lot of influence on Bangkok’s nightlife, we started bringing in international DJs before anyone else, we used SMS’s and the Internet to market Q Bar long before it was common to do so. Now Thai clubs like Muse and Funky Villa in their Thonglor-Ekkamai area have taken it to the next level as has Narcissus, but Q Bar set the bar. “Recently, we redesigned the upstairs making it into a high-end lounge, which brought back a lot of the older clientele, who like to sit down, have drinks over chilled-out music. In our outdoor area, you can smoke and have shishas.” David and Andrew are very ying and yang; they have a great partnership, most businesses break up because the partners Continued on page 14
January 2010
11
Business News
The TCCC & TICC Joint Speaker Luncheon
O
n Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the Thai-Canadian and Thai-Italian Chambers of Commerce held their first joint speaker luncheon at the Bangkok Club. In total, 50 members and associates turned out to listen to Mr. Luc de Waegh, CEO of West Indochina Consulting speak on conducting business in Burma (Myanmar) in a legal and responsible way. Mr. De Waegh’s presentation was rooted in the belief all citizens have a right to economic development and that prosperity is a critical catalyst for social development. In his presentation, he argued that transferring best practices, knowledge, skills and technology can, over time, bring many benefits and improvements to the living standard of the Burmese people. It’s certainly easy to challenge the viability of the international community’s trade sanctions against Burma, particularly when key regional players are investing heavily in the country and undermining the potential effect of such sanctions. In the current environment, the key question remains are sanctions the best approach? This is probably best answered by the ordinary citizens of Burma, who seem to have little voice in the process.
Following the Joint Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce Speaker Luncheon Mr. Ron Livingston, TCCC's President, takes time to thank Mr. Luc de Waegh, CEO of Indochina Consulting with a speaker appreciation gift.
Canuck
Connections
1st Maple Leaf Shuffle Board Tournament
F
or all in attendance at our November 18th Canuck Connections networking night, we say… thank you for supporting the Chamber’s 1st Maple Leaf Shuffle Board Tournament. In total, 50 members and friends of TCCC turn out to party on this Wednesday night with 16 teams participating in the tournament. It was a fun filled evening as the competitive field was well populated with some very seasoned Canadian shuffle board players. In the end, it was the Grant Thornton team that walked away with the 1st Place Prize of Kokanee Glacier Beer. It was the first time for Khun Wan to play shuffle board and a clear talent for the sport was demonstrated with numerous 3’s, 4’s and 5 point hangers. In the word’s of Don Lavoie one of the play-off finalists, “I hope we don’t have to play against Wan”. In the end, the accuracy of the Grant Thornton team’s side-stance sliders were just too hard to match. Congratulations to Team Grant Thornton for taking the 1st Place Prize and ensuring an exciting night of shuffle board for all of the players and spectators.
12 Voyageur
John Casella, TCCC's Treasurer was a strong contender throughout the entire 1st Maple Leaf Shuffle Board Tournament.
TCCC'S President, Ron Livingston, also proved to be another avid shuffle board player.
The Chamber also wishes to thank Mr. Dana Caron, the Director of Roadhouse for his support in making the third floor sports bar facility available for this Chamber sporting event. The special Caesar drinks prepared by Roadhouse were a real surprise and delight for the Canadian crowd. The Canada Day Committee will certainly be taking some tips from Dana on how to prepare Caesar drinks using 100% “local content”. For this year’s Canada Day Celebration, I’m sure Mr. Caesar will have much longer working hours than in
prior years with the discovery of this new local ‘Clamato’ supply chain. Whenever you’re in the Silom area, please stop by the Roadhouse BBQ Restaurant located at the corner of Surawongse and Rama IV. If you walk up stairs to the restaurant’s 3rd floor sports bar, you’ll be able to enjoy some great BBQ and take in a few games of shuffle board. ( www.roadhousebarbecue. com )
January 2010
13
Business News Continued from page 11
“We believe in healthy competition,” Andrew says. have falling out, but David being an assertive New Yorker and Andrew being a laid-back Canadian are a perfect fit. They listen to each other and have never had a serious falling out. And everything they do is a combination of both their ideas. “We are in it for the lifestyle, we enjoy what we do and we are proud of the way we do business,” says Andrew.
Fame, talent & publicity
Q Bar is not simply “world famous in Bangkok”. It has been featured on hundreds of television networks worldwide, in newspapers and magazines from Dubai to Washington, Tokyo to Malta, Beijing to Brisbane, Moscow and New York. It has been featured in Elle, Vogue, Time, Esquire, Newsweek, the London Bar guide. It has hosted the likes of Mick Jagger, Matt Dillon, Oliver Stone, Eric Cantona, Michelle Yeoh, Steven Segal, Collin Farrell, Jackie Chan, Rick Yune, Michael Rappaport, Jay Sean, the Black Eyed Peas, the G-Unit, the Backstreet Boys, Paradon Srichipan, and a multitude of Miss Worlds and Miss Universes, who have lounged about while soaking up the resident DJ's mix of chill-out and club tunes. In addition to Q Bar’s high-quality international resident DJs, over the past 10 years it has brought to Bangkok some of the best talent in the world including: Kid Koala, DJ Cash Money, Ice-T, Jazzy Jeff, Z-Trip, A-Trak, Q Bert, The Mad Professor, Maseo of De La Soul, DJ Premier and of course the legendary Hedkandi Parties. It has supported the local music scene with events like Jub Chai parties, its famous 9 Mile MC contests, Bollywood parties, events with Bakery Music, Grammy, Sony, MTV, and Channel V.
14 Voyageur
Full page AD